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JACKSONVILLE – The 2012 South Division Champion Jacksonville Sharks announced Wednesday that the team has added more youth to its receiving corps, as rookie wideout J.J. Hayes has been assigned to the Jacksonville roster on a one-year rookie contract. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Hayes heads to Jacksonville after a standout collegiate career at Lamar University. As a senior in 2011, Hayes led the Cardinals in every major receiving category, racking up 951 yards and eight touchdowns on 53 receptions, a performance that earned him a spot on the All-Southland Conference Second Team. Hayes had more than twice as many receptions as the second-leading receiver on the Lamar squad.

One of the most decorated players in Lamar history, Hayes owns school records for receiving yards in a season (951 in 2011), receiving yards in a single game (212) and receptions in a single game (14). As a junior in 2010, he led Lamar with 52 receptions for 745 yards, which was at the time the fifth-best single-season yardage total in school history. He also ranked second on his team with six receiving touchdowns that season.

Prior to attending Lamar, Hayes played at Navarro Junior College, where he earned an honorable mention spot on the All-Southwest Junior College Football Conference team. Hayes is a native of Diboll, Texas who was a four-sport athlete at Diboll High School, where he competed in football, basketball, soccer and track.

About the Jacksonville Sharks

The Jacksonville Sharks are members of the Arena Football League (AFL). The ArenaBowl XXIV and back-to-back-to-back South Division Champions are presented by Sea Best Seafood and play all home games on Sea Best Field at the Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena. Season Tickets for the 2013 season are now available, two tickets as low as $185. To reserve your season tickets or for more information, please call (904) 621-0700. Follow the Sharks on facebook at facebook.com/jaxsharks and on Twitter @jaxsharks, as well as the Attack Dance Team at facebook.com/sharkattackdance and Chum at facebook.com/chumsharks.